Why Does This Pop Up Pop Up?

[hollygolightly]

I have been plagued by this page that comes up about 5 minutes after logging on:

http://www.1ad2srvr-cpt-v1.com/ad/show.php...MDENCg==&base=1 (http://www.1ad2srvr-cpt-v1.com/ad/show.php?id=2&url=d3d3LnNweWhlYXIuY29tL2Fkcy9pbWdfMDENCg==&base=1)

At the bottom of the page it says:

http://www.spyhear.com

Sometimes, it says that "people" are spying on me.

What's it all about and how can I stop it from popping up?

Help, please! :(


:rolleyes: :rolleyes: I've just been to the spyhear page and there's some listening gadget to buy - might sound interesting, but that doesn't stop me wanting to get rid of the b****y thing popping up when I don't want it too.

[Matthew]

Sounds like you've inadvertantly installed some software that's added 'spyware' or an 'ad server' etc, or something that's installed itself via your browser automatically.

You need to get Ad-Aware if not already Holly - really good and it may catch it, get from here:

Download Site (http://download.com.com/3000-2094-10045910.html?legacy=cnet)

If that doesn't get rid of it, I would try looking in the Windows Registry file for anything dodgy looking that looks like it shouldn't be there. Be really careful you don't modify or delete anything here without first checking it out, could cause hours of headaches :D

e.g.

Go to START, choose RUN and then - Type in: regedit then click OK.

This opens the Registry Editor. You can see all the files and sub-directories and the content/info on the right hand side panel window.

1.) Click "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE" Folder
2.) Click "SOFTWARE" Folder
3.) Click "Microsoft" Folder
4.) Click "Windows" Folder
5.) Click "CurrentVersion" Folder
6.) Click "Run" Folder

- Have a look inside the 'Run' folder from the content panel on the Right hand side and see if anything looks unsusual (you may see ads or something similar in the data or name etc). This listing is what is automatically run when you start your PC up. Let us know if you find anything that may look 'odd'.

Often virus, trojans, spyware etc runs itself and loads up ready as soon as your PC is booted from these instructions in this registry folder area - it's done behind the scenes and silently. It's quite a legitimate area as your PC loads things up like tools etc that are needed straight away when you start up, but dodgy stuff can exploit this so it's then ready to run and/or connect to the internet to communicate when you next go online.

HTH! :)

[muckshifter]

spyhear.com ... Known and confirmed. 100% pure-bred spyware ...

... go get Ad-aware. ;)

[hollygolightly]

I'm downloading ad-aware - thanks!

Muckshifter, what do you mean?? :unsure:

[muckshifter]

spyhear.com ... is spyware.

OFFICIAL SPYWARE BLACKLIST (http://www.geocities.com/spywarekilla/spyware_blacklist.html)

[hollygolightly]

It's downloaded and that annoying page hasn't come up again, so touch wood, that's that little one solved.

My next query then is what to download for a virus checker. Mine expired erm, a long, long time ago - I think it was with symantec. It pops up to tell me to ring a number in London to re-activate it (or something like that).

Any suggestions there folks?

I can turn my puter on and off, thats it. I haven't got the foggiest of what other things I'm supposed to do with it. I've had it for about four years and no probs. Although, having said that, earlier tonight it just went blank - literally - black screen. Did ctrl+alt+del but nothing happened, wouldn't switch off at the thingummy bob so had to pull the plug.

[muckshifter]

Go get AVG Antivirus (http://www.grisoft.com/us/us_index.php) its free. Check for any updates after installation.

However, I would suggest re-investing in Norton you would probably be better off buying Norton AV 2003, about £35.

B)

[hollygolightly]

Oh, I've just been reading it Muckshifter. That's scary :o .

And thankfully I read that once downloaded you have to run the thingy. ;) Which of course I haven't done yet. I will.

My puters going potty now. When I was reading that link two boxes kept coming up saying run time error at Line something and the other was run time error and something about syntax something...

Argh!

I think I'll take it to the Doctors for a check up.

[muckshifter]

oops!

Bring it here, I'll see to it for you and no charge. :)

[hollygolightly]

Thanks very much for the other information too Muckshifter.

I'm downloading (and will open up! :lol: ) the AVG anti virus programme.

:flowers: Ta :)

[hollygolightly]

Both now installed.

Thanks M & M - aren't you sweets :lol:

(Or some American gangsta rapper? :blink: )

[hollygolightly]

Originally posted by muckshifter@Jul 20 2003, 11:43 PM
oops!

Bring it here, I'll see to it for you and no charge.** :)
Ooooh, where are you? :lol:

Just to let you know, :cry: , it has popped up again... wasn't ad-ware supposed to stop it?

I'll have to try Matthew's complicated advice now. :(

Who said computers were good? :(

[hollygolightly]

Matthew, all it says in the RunOnce thing, on the right hand box is:

(ab) (Default) (value not set)
(ab) Default "Q:\Setup\autoplay.exe"

That's it.

[hollygolightly]

Doh!*

I suppose it helps to run the ad-aware after you've installed it? Tee hee ;)

It has run its course and quarantined 123 documents, a process thing, a file and some register keys (?). 92 of the quarantined documents were tracking cookies; other things came from: Windows; Bonzi Buddy (what's that?!); Twisted Humor (yeah, right); Alexa; Advert Bar; Brilliant Digital; the file ends in @cgi-bin[1].txt

So, wahey, after all that hopefully my query has been fully resolved.

What a marvellous learning process. Thanks to all who took part. :lol:

[muckshifter]

I suppose it helps to run the ad-aware after you've installed it? Tee hee
:hihi: :blink: :hihi:

holly ... been there, seen it, done it .... :D

The 'record' in my workshop was 298. :huh:

Don't worry what they were as long as Ad-aware got rid of 'em. Run it before you shutdown your system every night, it will still surprise you when you get some odd tracking cookie here and there again, don't worry about deleting them. ;)

We never stop learning.


Oh, and its Cardiff, South Wales ... Free service to ALL NFH members.


Mucks. B)

[vernon]

Ohh cool thanx! you good with laptops?
Is that collect and return too?! :P
:D

So your a proper person who knows about comps muckshifter...you know where we're all gonna go now!!!
Snap..someone else here said something about ads and i mentioned ad-aware, did you by any chance look for a sneakey wear killar just after installing ntl.
That gator thing had 45 wibbley bits to it!
plus the "oh you cheeky boogert" factor.

I might try that long whinded thing i read about too.

(a P.S. question - when i start up widdows...it comes on...then sorta goes black for a second before coming on...it didn't do it at first ..then it came on..then i re-installed widdows anyway and it was gone...and now its back again! ..hope that not too technical!..just wondering if thats a famous type thing with easy solution.
I also goat what i have been told is the famous error message when closing outlook exshpress..aren't i lucky )

Oh look at that...in my wouter outgoing traffic log "www.muckshifter.co.uk" is listed..isn't that odd...is that advertising ;) ..coz i will look there now!

[muckshifter]

Is that collect and return too?!
Sure, just bung it on a number 45 bus, the diver knows where I live. :P


So your a proper person...
Yep, have my own Birth Certificate. :hihi:


when i start up windows...it comes on...then sorta goes black for a second before coming on...it didn't do it at first ..then it came on..then i re-installed windows anyway and it was gone...and now its back again!
It's normal ... If you 'clean' install Windows, it’s very fast, and as soon as you start to load any programs it starts to slow down. Suffice to say it happens to my 'super-duper' system as well. :D

[zebrazoo]

I am also a suffer of bloomin pop-ups. I get at lest 20 in 5 mins. I've got ADaware and it finds all these tracking cookies and something called Advertbar in the HKEY-CURRENT-USER. I've been through ADaware and the regedit a million times but I still cant get rid of this silly bar thing. Anyone any ideas how to delete it and make it stooooooooop!?

[Lady Penelope]

:lol: Hi - arn't they just a pain - I have PopSwatter - give it a whirl! BD xx

[goosegirl]

Zebrazoo,

Do you have the trial version or the full version of Adware?

GG.

[hollygolightly]

Oh crikey, this is an old thread brought back to life! :lol:

How things have moved on in the past year.... I have no pop-ups at all, I'm fully covered for viruses, spyware and all the other monsters lurking out there.

Take a visit to Mucks Forum for your computer info. ;) (Or get someone to reformat your computer and start again.... :rolleyes: :lol:)

[zebrazoo]

GG, I have the full version of Adaware. Ive tried loads of pop up blocking programs but most only work on Microsofts's IE. I'm using the BT Yahoo browser with BB so any suggestions for that would be welcome. However I don't think they're coming through the broswer as you have to sign into that separately from connecting to the net and when I just connect, thats when they start to appear.

[sally]

I had a popup that keeps trying to dial a number I downloaded ad aware and it dealt with what it called 135 suspicious whatevers.

I hope this is not one of those things that make you dial a premium rate number :o

Its stopped happening since the ad aware installation but is there any way I can check..??

My dial up is still showing a free number but Im no techie and I dont suddenly want a £45,000 phone bill :bigeyes:

[goosegirl]

Adware and Spysweeper are the best 2 to use. It is a good idea to use these 2 together because 1 may not pick up the same things as the other .

Sally sounds like you need popup killer.

GG.

[Bird Woman]

i had exactly the same problem holly but adaware and avg didnt pick up on he problem so i put up with it for months. however the other day i downloaded something called webroot spy sweeper.

spysweeper picked up 3 trojans that adaware and avg failed to find plus lots of other interesting things and its solved my pop up problem. it also runs in the background whilst you are on line and so far i havent picked up any more spyware. you might want to try it, i cant remember the address but just type webroot spy sweeper into google and go from there.

im secured up to the hilt now, running that, avg and a firewall. ive had enough of people hacking me and b****ring up my system.

[sally]

Thanx GG how do I get spyware I think aol sent me ad aware as they kept telling me I had the problem and you know it sends an error report well I turned it on one day and this ad aware was sitting ready on my desktop waiting to be installed and like the turnip I am I thought it was more aggro and deleted it!

Then I heard someone saying to someone else whatever you do install ad aware I was cringing anyway did not have to eat too much humble pie as it was back on my desktop LOL... :lol: